Ray Edward Cochran was born in Albert Lea, Minnesota; however, as his parents were from Oklahoma, he considered himself an Oklahoman, and introduced himself as such in interviews. He took music lessons in school, but eventually quit the band to play drums. Rather than take piano lessons, Cochran began learning guitar, playing the country music he heard on the radio. As time went on, Cochran moved to Los Angeles, California in 1953. Together with Hank Cochran, Eddie formed The Cochran Brothers, though the two shared no relation.
Around the same time, Cochran worked as a session musician, but aspired to be a songwriter and artist in his own right, and recorded a demo with songwriting partner and future manager, Jerry Capeheart. Cochran's first notable foray into the public eye was as one of the many performing artists featured in the musical comedy film The Girl Can't Help It starring Jayne Mansfield, eventually resulting in a recording contract with Liberty. He would follow up on this appearance by appearing in several films of the same genre. He also performed as a support act for such stars as Gene Vincent and Little Richard, who were among Cochran's co-stars in the aforementioned film.
For his recordings, Cochran often used experimental techniques that would later become part and parcel for other recording artists, notably recording numerous overdubs in order to create the rich, distinctive guitar sound for "Summertime Blues" and "C'mon Everybody". "Twenty Flight Rock", the song Cochran performed in The Girl Can't Help It, was the very first song a young Paul McCartney played for John Lennon as his audition for Lennon's group, The Quarrymen, which would later metamorphose into The Beatles.
Cochran was killed in an automobile accident in Chippenham, Wiltshire, England during a tour of Britain with Gene Vincent. Vincent and Cochran's fiancee, who were both in the car, survived the crash. Scholars have noted that, somewhat eerily, Cochran's last single release in his lifetime was "Three Steps to Heaven", although the song's lyrical context has nothing to do with death. Cochran's death occurred little over a year after the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, to whom he paid tribute in his recording of the song "Three Stars", which remained unreleased until 1966.
A majority of Cochran's recorded legacy would be released posthumously; in his lifetime, only one album, Singin' to My Baby (1957), was ever released. Perhaps owing to the brevity of his career, Cochran never attained the same star status as other rockers of the era; however, his lyrical themes of teenage desires and rebellion, being somewhat more morose and raucous than his contemporaries, had a profound influence on many of the greatest artists of the '60s and '70s, such as The Beatles, The Who, and The Rolling Stones.
Sittin In The Balcony
Eddie Cochran Lyrics
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Just a-watchin' the movie
Or maybe it's a symphony
I wouldn't know
I don't care about the symphonies
Just a-cymballs and a-timpanies
I'm just a-sittin' in the balcony, on the very last row
The feature's over, but we're not through
Mmm-mm, just a-sittin' in the balcony
We may stop lovin' to watch Bugs Bunny
But he can't take the place of my honey
Just a-sittin' in the balcony
Just a-smootchin' in the balcony
Just a-sittin' in the balcony, on the very last row
Just a huggin' and a-kissin' with my baby on the very last row
The lyrics to Eddie Cochran's song "Sittin' In the Balcony" tell the story of a young couple who are more interested in each other than the movie or symphony that they are supposed to be watching. The singer is "just a-sittin' in the balcony, on the very last row," with his lover beside him. He claims to not care about the symphonies, "Just a-cymballs and a-timpanies," and would rather hold hands and kiss his lover, even after the feature has ended. Perhaps the most poignant line in the song is "We may stop lovin' to watch Bugs Bunny, But he can't take the place of my honey," which points to the enduring and intense love between this couple. Ultimately, the song is a tribute to the power of young love and the ability of two people to find happiness and create their own world, even in the middle of a busy movie theater or concert hall.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm just a-sittin' in the balcony
I'm currently occupying a seat in the balcony section of the theater
Just a-watchin' the movie
I am currently engaged in the activity of viewing a motion picture
Or maybe it's a symphony
It is possible that the performance I am currently watching is a classical music concert
I wouldn't know
However, I do not have any knowledge or education in the subject matter
I don't care about the symphonies
I do not possess any interest or concern for classical music genres
Just a-cymballs and a-timpanies
Rather, I merely appreciate the sounds of percussive instruments such as cymbals and timpanis
I'm just a-sittin' in the balcony, on the very last row
I have intentionally selected the last row of seating in the balcony area to occupy my current position
I'll hold your hand and I'll kiss you too
I am in the company of a romantic partner that I will proceed to physically display affection towards
The feature's over, but we're not through
Although the movie has concluded, my romantic interaction with my partner has not ended
Mmm-mm, just a-sittin' in the balcony
I continue to remain seated in the balcony area, satisfied in my current activity
We may stop lovin' to watch Bugs Bunny
While watching the screening of an animated cartoon, such as Bugs Bunny, my affections for my romantic partner may momentarily cease
But he can't take the place of my honey
However, no cartoon character can truly replace the value and worth of my partner in my life
Just a-sittin' in the balcony
Once again, I reiterate my current location and activity, seated in the balcony area of the theater
Just a-smootchin' in the balcony
I am presently engaging in the activity of kissing and other physical displays of affection towards my partner
Just a-sittin' in the balcony, on the very last row
I remind the listener of my intentionally selected seating location and current activity
Just a huggin' and a-kissin' with my baby on the very last row
Once more, I stress that I am actively embracing and kissing my romantic partner in the last row of seats in the balcony area
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN LOUDERMILK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind